Return of the Mockingjay

Chapter 1

I walk through the meadow toward the sound of laughter and children playing. I extend my arms away from my sides and feel the soft blades of grass gently stroking the palms of my hands, I breath in the scent of the summer meadow and feel the warm sunshine on my skin. A small girl crashes into me from the long grass and screams, "mommy!" I reach down and pick up my daughter, the girl with the dark hair and deep blue eyes. I sit her on my hip and walk on whilst she babbles on about everything, the trees, the flowers the different games she's playing. I reach a clearing in the grass expecting to see my husband Peeta, but I see Haymitch and Wolfe struggling over a gun. It goes off, and I scream as I see Haymitch crumple to the floor.

I wake with a start and sit up in bed then turn to my side expecting to see Peeta. But I'm in bed alone and then I remember, I'm in 12 whilst Peeta's still in 13 running the country as President.
I collapse back onto the bed and close my eyes. So much has happened in the 5 months that have passed since that day in the forest outside District 3. The loss of Haymitch is a wound I don't think will ever heal, just the thought of him not being here brings a tear to my eye. We all attended Paylor's state funeral at District 13, it was a solemn occasion made all the more difficult for Peeta and I over the loss of Haymitch. After that, all we could do was look on as Wolfe's army marched across Panem. In the following weeks districts 4, 5 and 6 fell. Once Wolfe had achieved that he stopped his advance and our spies suspect that he's making some sort of super weapon in the factories of 6 to continue his conquest.

I hear a faint high pitched yawn come from the other side of the room and I smile in utter joy. I look across to see two tiny chubby arms flailing around above the lip of the cot. She's awake! I think to myself. I leap out of bed and shuffle over to Rue.
"Hi Sweetie" I say in my softest sing song voice.
Her eyes are open wide and she smiles at me, her arms flailing around and her legs kicking off her bed covers.

"Okay, come to Mommy" I say as I pick her up. Straight away she try's to stuff her fist into her mouth, sucking on the side of her hand. I go back to the bed and heap up my pillows against the headboard and get back into bed, leaning against the pillows I open my nightshirt and feed Rue. I watch as her eyes close and I lose myself in my baby. I think back to the time I nearly lost her, that evening when I collapsed in my Mom's treatment room. I was 5 months pregnant at the time but it woke me up to my responsibilities. I was so immature in how I acted back then, but when I think back I don't think I ever really understood what was happening to me. I mean, sure I felt ill, I slept and I could feel her moving inside me but it was only when I held her in my arms that first time that I realised. I wept when she was born, as did Peeta. Despite everything I put her through she survived, like my Mom once said, she's got a strong heart, but even so Rue was born 2 weeks early. That day I'll never forget.

When Peeta agreed to be President he made a deal that would let me spend the rest of my pregnancy in peace. I returned home to district 12 with Gibbs and her squad as my security detail together with a drop ship on standby at the barracks ready to evacuate me at a moments notice. I guess being First Lady of Panem does have some privileges. Anyway, one afternoon after a short walk to the hob I collapsed halfway home crippled by cramps. Gibbs called in the drop ship and I was transported at high speed back to district 13. All the time I thought that once again I was going to lose my baby, but I made it back to medical and Rue was born that evening with my mother and Peeta there at the birth. Peeta's so proud of Rue and I know he misses us what with him being in district 13 and all but we made a decision the day Paylor was killed that Peeta should take over the presidency and help guide Panem out of this civil war. It seems that everyone knew Peeta would be the perfect choice. I knew it, as did Plutarch, Paylor.....and Wolfe. I'm brought back from my daydream by a tiny burp from Rue, she's had her fill. I smile and check the time on my bedside clock, 8:45. I need to get downstairs and wait by the phone as Peeta calls every morning at 9:00. I forgo the shower for now, slip on my robe and slippers and make my way downstairs with Rue cradled in my arm still in her baby grow. I put Rue in her carry chair in the lounge whilst I make some tea. I take my mug and sit on the couch in front of Rue watching her trying to stick her toes in her mouth. I hear the front door close and turn to see Megan come in the lounge
"Hi Katniss, how's the little princess today"